French-Australian jazz pianist and composer, Chris Cody, and his quartet invite you to a music-texte-and video performance, Astrolable – Suite for Lapérouse, inspired by the extroardinary three-year voyage of the French navigator Jean-François de La Pérouse.

Chris Cody has closely studied La Pérouse’s incredible voyage and disappearance at sea which have been an inspiration for Cody’s work and have invited him to explore different times and places, identity and the meetings of cultures.

The powerful and moving music ranges from jazz, classical to diverse world music influences inspired by the voyage. It leaves space for the musicians to open up and improvise over the different moods, textures and styles, ranging from calm meditation to exuberant joy.

Buy your ticket HERE 

The 3 pieces of the Byron Ballet Company’s soiree will transport you on a powerful journey through the incredibly fertile world of musical creation in France from the end of the XIXth century to the beginning of the XXth century.

1 – Matisse – La Danse
Creation based on the famous painting from 1910 and other of his masterpieces.
Music DE FALLA, SAINT-SAËNS, DEBUSSY, LEKEU.
With April Galetti, soprano; Ian Knowles, Cello & Ken Naughton, piano

2 – Carmen – Pas De Deux
Music by Bizet whose opera was created in 1875

3 – Rite of Spring
Created in 1913 on music by Stravinsky

The Llewellyn Choir’s ‘Faure by Candlelight’, an evening of exquisite French music by Gabriel Faure and others, will be performed on the evening of 25 July at Holy Cross Anglican Church, Hackett. The centrepiece will be Faure’s Requiem in D Minor, which is among the best-loved pieces in the entire choral repertoire. Its enduring appeal to Australian choral enthusiasts was confirmed by its listing at 26th place on the ABC’s recent invitation for listeners to vote for their Top 100 pieces of Music You Can’t Live Without.

Composed between 1887 and 1890, its soothing, tranquil atmosphere is designed to comfort mourners rather than impress upon them the enormity of death.

Other pieces by Faure will include Cantique de Jean Racine, Après un Rêve and Madrigal. And to complete the French theme, we will have some pieces by other French composers including Saint-Saens’ hauntingly beautiful Calme des Nuits.

Choral music features strongly in the enjoyment of the performing Arts in Canberra, and The Llewellyn Choir’s is one of Canberra’s leading classical choirs, bringing new and challenging music to Canberra audiences. Rowan Harvey-Martin, one of Canberra’s most respected musicians and winner of the 2020 Canberra Critics Circle award, will conduct, and we will be joined by soloists Rohan Thatcher (baritone) and Antonio de la Torre (soprano), and accompanied by The Llewellyn Sinfonia.